Matthew Knies: Contract, Salary, Stats, and Background

When you’re a rookie living with your captain, the pressure to perform is real. For Matthew Knies, the 23-year-old left wing from Phoenix, Arizona, that arrangement became a fast track to the NHL—and a $46.5 million vote of confidence from the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Age: 23 ·
Height: 6 ft 3 in (191 cm) ·
Weight: 227 lb (103 kg) ·
Position: Left Wing ·
Team: Toronto Maple Leafs ·
Draft: 57th overall in 2021 ·
Contract AAV: $7.75 million

Ten key facts, one pattern: Matthew Knies went from a 57th‑overall pick with a modest entry‑level deal to a cornerstone piece of the Maple Leafs’ future.

The numbers tell the story of a power forward who earned a top-tier contract before his rookie deal expired.

What is Matthew Knies’ salary?

What is the structure of Matthew Knies’s entry‑level contract?

• Knies signed a three‑year entry‑level contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs on April 1, 2023 (CapWages).
• The total value was $2.775 million, with an average annual value (AAV) of $925,000 (CapWages).
• That ELC carried a cap hit of $925,000 through the 2025‑26 season.

How does his salary compare to other rookie forwards?

When Knies signed his extension in July 2025, Sportsnet called it the Leafs’ best draft‑pick development since Auston Matthews. The Athletic noted that an AAV around $8 million would have created short‑term cap challenges – Toronto managed to keep it at $7.75 million.

Here is how his AAV stacks up against comparable forwards from the same draft class.

The pattern: Knies’ deal reflects a premium for size, net‑front presence, and playoff upside – exactly what contending teams pay for.

“Matthew Knies says living with John Tavares for his first season really helped him adjust.”

— Daily Faceoff, citing Knies and Tavares

What is Matthew Knies’s background?

Where was Matthew Knies born and raised?

Knies was born in Phoenix, Arizona, on October 17, 2002 (NHL.com). He grew up in the greater Phoenix area, a nontraditional hockey market that has produced a growing number of NHL players.

What amateur career did he have before the NHL?

• Played two seasons for the Tri‑City Storm of the USHL (2018–2020), recording 31 goals and 56 assists in 90 games.
• Attended the University of Minnesota (2020–2023), playing for the Golden Gophers in the NCAA (HockeyDB – amateur stats aggregator).
• Was drafted 57th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.
• Signed his entry‑level contract on April 1, 2023, after his sophomore season.

What ethnicity is Matthew Knies?

Is Matthew Knies of Slovak descent?

Matthew Knies is an American professional ice hockey player by nationality. His surname suggests Slovak roots – “Knies” is a common Slovak surname – but his specific ethnic background has not been publicly documented in depth (NHL.com lists only his birthplace). He was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona.

What is his nationality?

Knies holds American citizenship and has represented the United States at the international level in junior competitions.

The takeaway: While fans often search for ethnic details, the available public records focus on his nationality and birthplace. No official source confirms a specific ethnic heritage beyond American.

Does Matthew Knies live with John Tavares?

Why did Matthew Knies live with John Tavares during his rookie season?

During his first season with the Maple Leafs, Knies lived with captain John Tavares. The arrangement was widely reported by Daily Faceoff and other outlets as a unique mentorship setup. Tavares and his family hosted Knies, providing stability and a daily example of NHL‑caliber preparation.

What impact did living with Tavares have on Knies’s adjustment to the NHL?

Knies himself credited the arrangement in interviews. “It really helped me adjust,” he said, as reported by Daily Faceoff. The setup allowed him to focus on hockey, learn the city, and absorb habits from a future Hall‑of‑Famer.

Why isn’t Matthew Knies playing?

Is Matthew Knies injured?

Yes – as of the latest NHL injury reports, Knies has missed games due to an upper‑body injury. FOX Sports injury logs show Knies was listed with an upper‑body injury on November 20, 2024, another on January 22, 2025, and an undisclosed injury on May 16, 2025. During the 2025 playoffs, The Athletic reported a severe bone bruise to his ribs suffered in Game 6 against the Florida Panthers.

When is Matthew Knies expected to return?

The Maple Leafs have listed him as day‑to‑day during regular‑season absences. The bone bruise was described as a short‑term injury, and Knies is expected to be available for the start of the 2025‑26 season (barring setbacks). His absence is temporary and not related to any long‑term condition.

The takeaway: Knies has shown durability – he played 80 of 82 games in his rookie season – but the 2024‑25 campaign saw two separate upper‑body injuries plus the playoff rib issue. The Leafs will manage his workload carefully given his new contract.

Matthew Knies has gone from a second‑round surprise out of Arizona to a core piece of the Toronto Maple Leafs’ present and future. His $46.5 million extension, negotiated by agent Matt Federico (Sportsnet), locks in a power forward who already proved he can produce in the NHL while living with his captain. For the Leafs, the bet is that his best is still ahead – and the contract runs through 2031, giving Toronto a cost‑controlled asset through his prime. Knies chose to commit to a contender that believed in him early, rather than gamble on the open market.